Method of heating and melting metals.



W N. BEST METHOD OF HEATING AND MELTING METALS.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 19,1906.

Patented. June 14,1910

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W. N. BEST. METHOD OF HEATING AND MELTING METALS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19,1906.

Patent ed June 14,1910.

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WILLIAM NEW'TON BEST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H. BEST AND EZRA BEST, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF HEATING AND MELTING METALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14:, 1910.

Application filed July 19, 1906. Serial No. 326,830.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM NEWTON Bns'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 136 Vashington avenue, borough of Brooklyn, Kings county, city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method of Heating and Melting Metals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the heating and melting of metals, its object being to provide an improved method of performing such work, and consists in the steps of the process hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification I show the preferred apparatus for carrying out my improved process, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of my improved furnaces; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 a cross-section of the same.

In the drawings, the furnace A is shown mounted upon suitable standards 2, and the brick work inclosed by sheet metal walls, 3, 4 and 5. The inclosed walls, 6 of the furnace are made of refractory brick of suitable character.

7 is the inlet portion of the combustion chamber B, narrowed and constricted toward its inlet. The bottom of the portion 7 of the combustion chamber slopes downwardly, and the side walls are flared, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, the dimensions and proportions being adapted for the capacity and uses of the furnace for the purpose hereafter set forth.

The charging part of the furnace is of curved and substantially elliptical form in vertical, longitudinal section, as shown in Fig. 1, the bottom of the same being adapted to receive a supply of sand 8 when the furnace is employed for its usual work of heating metals for welding, or the sand can be removed to furnish a receptacle for the metal when it is desired to use the structure as a melting furnace. Through the roof of the furnace and close to the side walls thereof are arranged vents 9 which serve to assist in igniting the furnace by carrying off the products of combustion. In the side walls of the furnace are provided suitable openings, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 1 1. The opening 10, as shown, is a horizontally extended narrow slot through which can be inserted small rods for heating, the intermediate space being closed by means of removable blocks 15. The openings 11, 12 and 13 are for larger bars and masses of metal, any or all of which can be simultaneously used, as the requirements of the case may demand, and may severally be closed when not in use. The opening 14: being of largest dimensions is preferably closed by means of a slab 16 of refractory material having cable 17, having a counterweight 18 running over a pulley 19. Outside and underneath the several openings 10 to 1a, are arranged pipes 20, having openings, 21, through which air may be forced to protect the workmen from the heat of the furnace in the well known manner.

22 are suitable supports projecting la'terally from and underneath the bar openings to support the outwardly projecting ends of the bars 23, 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 2.

26 and 27 are slag vents and spouts for discharging the slag formed by the metal melted from the bars and fusing sand.

At the inlet end of the combustion chamber, is arranged the burner 28, adapted to deliver into the combustion chamber a uniform film or sheet of liquid gaseous or pulverized fuel from the pipe 29, the pipe 30, supplying a blast of air or steam for the atomizing or spreading of the fuel as it is forced out of the burner. Beneath the burner 23, is the nozzle 31, of the air blast pipe 32 adapted to deliver a blast of air underneath the flame or sheet of fuel to support combustion. The burner 28 is adapted in size and shape of outlet to the dimensions of the furnace and combustion chamber, proper air or steam pressure being employed to drive the fuel from the burner in a substantially horizontal fan shaped sheet or film filling the entire width of the combustion chamber, and extending to the rear end of the furnace, were it not consumed before reaching such point, while from the air blast nozzle sufiioient air is supplied to insure complete combustion of the fuel at the desired point, such blast being carried substantially parallel with the flame of fuel and similarly spread, more combustion supporting air being required when steam instead of air is employed to vaporize the fuel. The proper proportioning of the furnace and the fittings thereof, and the supply and pressure of fuel and air result in the projecting of a flame from the burner to the upper portion of the rear wall of the furnace and by which it is deflected downward for a short distance to the point where it is designed that combustion shall be complete and perfect, and the maximum heat produced. Thence the flame extends forward until it is met and deflected upward by the cross wall 38. The inward rush of air from the nozzle 31, carries the flame rearward, thus inducing eddying currents around the bars inserted through the side openings. Thereby owing to incomplete combustion adjacent to the arch and upper rear wall of the furnace, these parts are protected from excessive heat by the presence of the carbon monoxid. ,The whirl or eddy of flame or heat Within the charging portion of the furnace and around the metals to be treated causes such diminution of the blast as to prevent any abrasive effect upon the metals while they are uniformly heated'being within this field of perfect combustion. The flared walls of the combustion chamber are proportioned so as to accommodate the expanding gases and prevent back pressure of flame at the burner opening. The cross wall also prevents the deflected or eddying blast pouring outwardly through the combustion chambers.

I claim:

l. The method of heating and melting metals, which consists in producing around the same a whirl or eddy of heat, and di recting an air blast to support combustion inside of said eddy. 4

2.-The method of heating and melting metals which consists in directing a laterally extended sheet of flame in an eddy around the same, and in delivering combustion-supporting air in a similarly extended sheet into said eddy.

3. The method of securing perfect combust-ion and maximum heat at a predetermined point, consisting in directing a plunging sheet of flame toward such point, and directing against the under side thereof an intercepting, laterally extending air blast, whereby the two commingle in an eddy of flame around such point.

4. In fluid fuel combustion in a furnace,

the method of controlling such combustion 'to determine the point of highest heat and to protect the arch of the furnace from destructive heat, consisting in delivering an ignited film of vaporized fuel into the oon1- bustion chamber filling its entire width, and directed toward the point where greatest heat is required, and delivering underneath and against said film at such point, a blast of air to support combustion and produce an eddy of flame around such point.

5. The method of heating metal bars in a vapor burning furnace, consisting in supporting such bars in mid position therein, directing a horizontally disposed film of vapor over, downward, back, underneath and again upward and over said bars, and directing a film of combustion supporting air underneath said film of vapor and between it and said bars.

6. In a furnace having a burner or combustion chamber located above the charging part thereof, the method of heating articles arranged in mid position in said charging part, consisting in delivering a laterally spread film of vapor over, downward and around such articles, and delivering a similar film of combustion supporting air underneath said film of vapor and between it and said articles.

7. In a vapor burning furnace, the method of protecting the arch and rear wall thereof from destructive heat. consisting in directing the vapor in a laterally extended sheet adjacent to said arch, and against and downward along the rear wall, and delivering the current of combustionsupporting air underneath said film and into the eddy of the vapor flame, whereby the field of most complete combustion and highest heat is out of cont-act with said walls.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at the city of New York, this 18th day of July, 1906.

WVILLIAM NEIVTON BEST.

In presence of T. D. MARVIN, HENRY W. CLARK. 

